Combined rocker punch and shear container opener



R. B. DAVIDS May 15, 1951 COMBINED ROCKER PUNCH AND SHEAR CONTAINER OPENER Filed Oct. 12, 1949 FIG? FIG]

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Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED ROCKER PUNCH AND SHEAR CONTAINER OPENER 3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to container opening devices, and more particularly to a container opening device of the rocker type which combines the principle and advantages of the rocker cutter punch type of container opener with the principle and advantages of the rocker shear type of container opener, while eliminating the disadvantages of each type and providing, in addition, means for attaining the complete opening operation to a fuller and more complete opening of a container in an easier and more facile Way, without requiring, in addition to the hands for holding the container and opener, a fixed support for the container during the opening operation, as is necessary with use of the rocker-shear openers.

A further feature of the opener of the present invention is that it provides a simpledevice which may be easily used to lift with a twist of the wrist the severed container top from the interior of the container without probing into the thin severing space, as is necessary with other types of container openers.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to a modification and improvement of the beverage container openers of the rocker punch type illustrated in Sampson and Hothersall U. S. Patent 1,996,550, issued April 2, 1935, whereby .to retain the principle and advantage of thi cutter punch type of opener in ease of effecting the initial puncturing and cutting opening of a container while eliminating the disability inherent in the use of this type of opener to complete thereafter the opening operation, i. e. to open more fully and completely the container after the initial cutter punching step in the opening operation.

This the present invention attains by providing for a subsequent further but different rocking action of the shearing type, as distinguished from the-cutter punching type, to complete the operation of more easily and expeditiously opening the container to a, more fully and completely open position, after the initial rocking puncture cutting operation by means of the above mentioned type of rocking cutter punch.

With the present invention, after the initial puncturing opening of a container by means of the opener of the rocking cutter punch type illustrated in said Sampson-ct al. patent, this opener is then rocked on the rim of the container, upwardly and downwardly, about a fulcrum on one side of the longitudinal center of the opener about an axis on'a line at an angle to the line of the axis about which the initial puncturing operation is effected. This movement results in a shearing action at the rim of the container, by means of a cutting blade extending generally transversely of the length of the opener, the opener being provided with sharpened notch or slot open at one side of the opener, for insertion of the adjacent uncut portion of the container, after the initial puncturing opening operation, for shearing by the blade thus effected.

Since the side edge Of the punch otherwise serves to flatten or crimp effectively the narrow ledge left behind the shear upwardly against the inner wall of the end seam into a clean noncutting edge, an opening can be instantly made in beverage cans large enough andwith smoothed edge to permit drinking directly from the container, thus removing one of the chief advantages a bottle holds over other containers. Even the most elaborate and expensive openers leave a sharp edge more or less dangerous if one attempts to drink directly from the can. If severance of the end of the container is desired, which is rarely the case, this result may be obtained by using a little extra care in finishing the operation.

Further advantages of the opener are:

1. Cheapness of manufacture, involving only a one piece metal stamping with two or three shaping and tempering operations.

2. Adaptability to any type of tin or other thin material container, whether large or small or of round, elliptical or rectangular cross section.

3. Ultimate efficiency in getting contents rapidly out of containers, a result desired in most cases rather than a beautifully trimmed container immediately thrown away.

The invention has for further objects such other improvements and advantages or results as may be found to obtain in the device or implement hereinafter described or claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a blank cut from tool steel to form the combined cutter punch and shear of the present invention, and illustrates the position of the novel perimetrical fulcrum for the rocker shearing action prior to shaping it into its final operative position in the tool by bending;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating the finished implement with the novel fulcrum for the rocking shearing action in its final operative position in relation to the .other elements of the combined cutter punch and shear;

Figure 3 is a side elevation View of the finished implement as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top .plan view of acontainershowing the initial puncture opening produced by the edge or blade for the perimetrical shearing action;

Figure '7 is a vertical cross-sectional view through line T'l of Fig. 4 showing the finish of the initial cutter puncturing operation of the implement, and showing the angle at which the implement is to be held when completing the opening of the container perimetrically by rocking the implement about the novel shearing fulcrum when shifted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, to effect the subsequent shearing of the container top as shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the clean non-cutting edge left against the side of the container by the unsevered narrow ledge portion of the container top during the shearing action.

To illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown on the drawing a cutter punch opener of the type illustrated in the aforesaid Sampson and Hothersall Patent No. 1,996,550, which is formed from a single plate of tool steel or other suitable material.

As with the implement of said patent, the present implement comprises a body or handle part II, a concavo-convex pivot member or hump It for engaging a rim formed by a projecting end seam 29 of a container 21, the hump providing a rounded recess I'I adapted to receive and loosely pivot on the container rim seam 29, which pivot I! will fit over a straight sided rim as well as a circular rim of straight sided or curved containers, and has suflicient range to receive and freely pivot upon the rims of difierent kinds of containers.

The curved pivot member I? merges into the cutter punch proper 22, which is curved or hooked downwardly (Fig. 3) from the plane of the handle I I. In the present embodiment, the punch member 22 comprises a triangular body portion form-- ing the angular cutting member or punch 22, whose two sides terminate in a sharp cutting point 25, which is the first to come into cutting operation in initiating the puncturing of the container top 28. These two sides are each provided with a knife edge or cutting blade 23 in the preferred form of the invention, to provide a faster and a cleaner out, rather than a slow rougher cutting of the container from the region of the puncture point 25, as would occur with a less sharp edge on these two sides of the punch. The major portion of the top of the member is a fiat plane, and its pointed end 25 is bent downwardly from this plane.

The implement is also provided with another rim engaging member or lug 26, for cooperation with the pivot member Hi.

This lug 25 is struck down, as in said Patent 1,996,550, adjacent the central longitudinal line of the implement as a whole, from the metal of the handle part I I, so that one end remains united with and unsevered from the handle part II,

. whereas the other end is severed from the hump l6 and left a free end. The lug 26 is curved and the free end sharpened for gripping against the underside of outside of the end seam 29 of the container while the pivot member l6 slips or rotates over the top of the end seam 29 to provide a rocking lever action for puncturing the container top 28.

In accordance with the present invention, instead of having the hump l 6 extend continuously across the width of the implement, in the manner illustrated in the aforesaid Sampson et al. patent, the portion of hump I5 is omitted from one side edge up to the region of the side of the lug 26, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

The purpose of this is to provide a notch 33 and a straight edge 39 from a point where one of the angular cutting edges 23 would be just below the top of the container, when the initial punch is completed, to approximately two-thirds of the distance across the width of the cutter punch 22 of the implement, and at an angle to the longitudinal edges of the opener handle. This provides a slot open at one end at the edge of the implement to insert the portion of the container top, adjacent the initially punched out part of the top, within the implement for further cutting of the top perimetrically of the container top 28.

This straight edge is beveled and sharpened to form a knife, or cutting edge 39 in addition to the two angular cutting edges 23 of the cutter punch proper.

In place of the omitted portion of the hump I6, an arm 40 is struck up from the plate, oppositely to the lug 26. This arm 40 is disposed at the side edge of the implement at which the slot 33 opens out, and is located to bridge the slot. The arm is integral with the handle H and its por tion adjacent the cutter punch element 22 of the implement terminates free of the latter.

This arm 49 is provided with curved member 4] corresponding to the residual hump IE, to provide a complemental recess adapted to provide space for rocking of the implement on the fulcrum 42 hereinafter mentioned so that it may pivot on the container rim seam 29, in the absence of the portion of the hump it that has been omitted in order to provide for the open ended slot 38.

In addition, the arm 40 is provided, forwardly of the curved member, and at a higher elevation, with a fulcrum lug 42, and a fulcrum lug notch 43, to aiford a fulcrum which can rest on the rim 29 of the container, for sidewise, or perimetrical cutting of the container top 28 by a rocking motion around the perimeter of the container, about an axis which is at an angle to the axis of the recess I1, about which the rocking action of punch 22 for the initial puncturing and cutting action takes place.

While this sidewise rocking motion around the perimeter of the container is a natural and easy one, it necessitates a correct bevelling of the perimetrical cutting edge 39, and a correct placement of the fulcrum notch 43 therefor, to insure on the one hand (a) that the perimetrical cut shall be close to the sidewall of the container, and on the other hand that (b) the cutting edge 39 shall not dig into the rim 29 of the container.

To this end, the perimetrical cutting edge 39 is in the form of a bevel which slants downwardly from the top and towards the point 25 of the cutter punch element 22, and hence slants away from the sidewall 2'! of the container 29 when in operating position. The fulcrum notch 33 for the perimetrical cutting edge 39 terminates above,

aezsenaoi and in", spaced relation-to, therear edge 39 of the: cutterpunch element 22; and" in substantial.

alignment" with and above the cutter rim re ceivin hump 1-6. Inthi'smanner, the-fulcrum notch 43 tends tocenter on the containeredge.

latter inwardly of the side Wall of the container the punch under the adjacent uncut part'of'the container top from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in,

Fig. 4, but this is not essential for such sliding.

The portion 45 of the handle between the upwardly struck arm 40, and the downwardly struck lug 26 for the initial cutter punch rocking action is omitted to facilitate manufacture of the implement, since the hump I6 is not necessary at this region for its pivotal function.

To exemplify a preferred application of the present invention, there is shown a well-known type of container which may be operated by the combined rocker punch and rocker shear cutter punch of the present invention. This container comprises, a body 27 and top end 28 secured to the body in any suitable manner, as by a double seam 29, which constitutes the top rim or edge of the container, and in which the rim projects beyond the horizontal plane of the top 28 and beyond the cylindrical plane of the outside of the body, so as to provide a fulcrum for the pivot member [6 and an engaging projection or purchase for the lower lug 26.

To open a container, the implement is grasped by its handle H and positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, with the lower lug 26 engaging the bottom edge of the rim or seam 29, in which position the recess ll of the hump It engages the top edge of the container rim or seam 29. The implement is then rocked pivotally about the container rim, both the handle and the punch element proper describing an accurate path of movement, the former an upward movement and the latter a downward movement, the sharp point 25 of the curved punch member 22 effecting the initial puncture. Continuation of this rocking motion brings the cutting edges 23 into operation and the cutter punch 22 into the final position of the initial puncture cutting operation shown in Figure '7, where the initial cut portion 3| of the container wall is shown bent down and out to the side wall 2! of the container.

This produces the initial puncture and a partial opening of the container by one quick accurate rocking movement of the cutter punch 22.

To more fully and to completely open the initially punctured container, the implement or opener is pulled under the container top, or the container is rotated towards the opener while the opener is in the position shown in Fig. 7, as far as they will go. The fulcrum notch is swung round to engage the top of the container edge or rim 29, with the handle held at approximately 45 above horizontal, as shown in Fig. '1, rocking motions are employed rocking the opener on the perimetrical fulcrum lug 42 at one side of thelongitudinal center of the.- implement.: That; is, the implement. is: rocked; about; the... lug 4'2 aboutzan axis which is atian angle to-the axisofi: recess ll, about which the; initial; puncturing: In this manner short movement took place. rapid. perimetrical. shearing: cuts aremade in the container top at itsperipheryleavinga very narrow ledge which is'automatically rolledback against the. side wall or rim. of the container,. as: shownin Fig. 8, byv the slidin action of the: punch element, more: particularly" the? angular cutting edge. 23 fur-thestf'ro'mthe fulcrum1lug'42. This produces a clean. smooth edge. at the rim, asshown in Fig: 80513116. more fully or'completecutting or abrasion of them.

As is conventional with this type of opener; the handle II is rounded to eliminate sharp corners; a. circular opening 34 isprovided to" permit the. opener to be strung on a wire or hung on a nail, and a rounded recess 36 and hook 31 are provided in the side edge of the handle adapted for removal of the well-known crown cork bottle cap.

The invention as hereinabove set forth is embodied in a particular form of construction but may be variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A container opener, comprising: a handle having a forward portion of substantially greater width than thickness terminating in a downwardly bent cutter punch; a lug depending from the handle between the handle and the downwardly bent cutter punch for engagement under the rim of a container while said punch is rocked downwardly about said rim by upward movement of the handle; a slot extending transversely of and partially across the forward portion of said handle whereby said handle is connected to said punch by a narrow strip at one side thereof and a rearward edge portion is provided on said cutter punch, said slot being open at one end for insertion of a part of the container top adjacent the part out out by said cutter punch; a shearing element extending along said rearward edge portion of said cutter punch; anda fulcrum lug extending upwardly from the handle adjacent the open end of said slot in substantial alignment with said narrow strip for engagement with the rim of the container for sidewise rocking of said shearing element to cut the container top perimetrically.

2. A container opener, comprising: a handle having a forward portion of substantially greater width than thickness terminating in a downwardly bent cutter punch; a lug depending from the handle between the handle and the downwardly bent cutter punch for engagement under the rim of a container while said punch is rocked downwardly about said rim by upward movement of the handle; a slot extending transversely of and partially across the forward portion of said handle whereby said handle is connected to said punch by a narrow strip at one side thereof and a rearward edge portion is provided on said cutter punch, said narrow strip being curved to receive a container rim and said slot being open at one end for insertion of a part of the container top adjacent the part out out by said cutter punch; a shearing element extending along said rearward edge portion of said cutter punch; a fulcrum lug extending upwardly from the handle adjacent the open end of said slot, and a notch in said fulcrum lug above and in substantial alignment with said narrow strip for engagement over the rim of the container for sidewise rocking of said shearing element to cut the container top perimetrically.

3. A container opener, comprising: a one-piece metal plate, one end of said plate being formed into a handle, the other end being formed into a downwardly offset cutting blade; a curved part of one side of said handle connecting said handle to said blade and adapted to be pivotally rocked over the rim of a container; fulcrum means intermediate the side edges of said plate to engage 7 an'uncut portion of the container top adjacent an area cut out by said blade; a cutting element extending along said rearward edge portion of said cutting blade; perimetrical fulcrum means extending upwardly from the side of the plate at which the slot is open at one end, and a notch in said perimetrical fulcrum means above and in substantial alignment with said curved part to engage over said rim while the handle rocks the cutting blade sidewise for perimetrical shearing of the container top by said cutting element.

ROBERT BREWSTER DAVIDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Whitney Oct. 19, 1926 Number 

